Meet our Team
Patricia Alvarado, MA
Director & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Jennifer Brizuela, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Alex Solis, LMFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Vanessa Gutierrez, MSW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Diane Orozco, MA
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
Stephanie Sorady, MSW
Associate Clinical Social Worker
Patricia Alvarado
Director & Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
My experience comes from various schools of thoughts, through a multicultural lens that includes Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution Focused Treatment utilizing a strengths-based approach.
I am a licensed professional clinical counselor in the state of California and a licensed mental health counselor in the state of New York. I received my Master’s of Arts in Counseling from Loyola Marymount University in California and have extensive training in crisis intervention and trauma treatment working with Victims of Crime, within community mental health agencies, and private practice.
I explore situations in the here and now in order to provide a listening ear to understand your needs. I have experience working with women’s issues, relationships, crisis intervention, trauma focused treatment, anxiety, depression, mindfulness, substance abuse, and parenting. My areas of expertise include exploring trauma as well as parent/child relationships. Each can be unique on their own or intertwined together as trauma (generational, etc.) can have an affect in the way that we parent. My work aims to understand the underlying concerns that are causing stressful situations and mal-adaptive behaviors. Through active listening, approaching things with empathy, and from a non-judgmental standpoint, my hope is that we can work together to help create trust within the therapeutic relationship.
The experiences that I have gained volunteering on the Suicide Prevention Hotline, various shelters in Los Angeles including the Downtown Women’s Shelter, and my experience within community/mental health allow me to offer various perspectives and see things from a different lens. This creates an opportunity for creative interventions that allow us to truly experience change within the therapeutic relationship.
Qualifications
Trainings & Techniques
- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Acute Traumatic Incident Processing (A-TIP)
- Critical Incident Desensitization (CID)
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Positive Parenting Strategies (Triple P)
- Incredible Years for Children and Families
- Seeking Safety
- Brief Response to Crisis (BRC/CORS)/Crisis Oriented Recovery Services
- MBSR-T/Stressed Teens Mindfulness Program
- Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
- Problem Solving Treatment (PST) for Depression
- Motivational Interviewing
Professional Practice
- Clinical Supervisor with Beacon Health Options
- Counselor with The College of Westchester
- Clinical Therapist with Crespo Mental Health
- Lead Clinical Therapist at USC’s Violence Intervention Program
- Clinical Therapist with Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services
- Psychotherapist with California Victims of Crime Program
- Counselor on the Suicide Prevention Hotline
- Private Practice
Jennifer Brizuela
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
The most important ethical principles that I embrace as a social worker are to challenge social issues, provide service to those in need, and value the worth and dignity of people and their respective communities.
I was born in Los Angeles, am a first-generation college graduate, and am bilingual (Spanish). I received my Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of California- Riverside in 2009 with an emphasis on disparities in the medical system. I received my Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California in 2013 and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2018. Prior to this, I worked with families residing in transitional housing and obtained certification as a mental health rehabilitation specialist. Throughout my 11 years in social services, I have had opportunities to work alongside families involved with child welfare, individuals experiencing homelessness and other psychosocial issues, medical social work and the mental health field. Each experience has been immensely valuable and showed me that every person has their own narrative and strengths. Sometimes, we just need a helping hand to help us process our feelings, stressful events and trauma.
My therapeutic approach involves active listening, is empathic, and judgement free. I strive to provide a safe space where clients can express themselves and feel supported. I strongly believe in acknowledging intersectionality’s and the importance of individual experiences. I utilize Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, A-Tip other therapeutic modalities to achieve this. I have experience in assessments, crisis intervention, short-term therapy, and intensive case management. I have previously worked with children and adults with a history of abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), grief and loss, medical co-morbidities, domestic violence, substance abuse and severe mental health issues.
I hope to create an atmosphere where you are able to stop, breathe, and process. Together we will explore and identify maladaptive coping behaviors, negative automatic thoughts, intergenerational trauma and other areas of concern. I am here to build a trusting relationship with you and begin your journey to your best self.
Alex Solis
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
I believe therapy is an opportunity to be compassionately curious about ourselves – to reflect on our experiences, patterns, losses, traumas, relationships, and consider how they impact our wellbeing and our sense of self. My goal is to support you in your process of tending to the pieces of yourself and your story that often feel challenging or unapproachable and offer a space to explore ways to find peace. If you’re going through a major loss, experiencing anxiety/depression or noticing negative patterns in your relationships, I am here to listen and help you navigate the process.
I believe that effective therapy should create improvement in your everyday life, give you tools to work through future issues and leave you with the sense that you are making progress throughout the process. I utilize evidence-based techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) to ensure you are getting the most out of therapy.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the state of California. I received my Master’s of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy from the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University. I am a member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists). I have been in the social services field for the past 8 years working with individuals, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds. I have worked within community mental health where I provided comprehensive clinical assessments and services for school-aged children. During the past year I have learned to embrace telehealth technology and have had the opportunity to work with individuals throughout the state of California.
I believe that all people deserve to feel safe and empowered, within their communities & within themselves. Helping others feel accepted and capable is a foundation of my approach, and you will feel it in sessions that are comfortable, playful, and genuine. It is a gift to be able to hold space in your world as a therapist and I value that relationship.
Connect with Alex
Vanessa Gutierrez
Associate Clinical Social Worker
As a social worker I value integrity. I am sensitive to cultural and social diversity and empower vulnerable populations through self-determination. I have a Master’s Degree in Social Work and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential from California State University, Long Beach. I am registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Clinical Social Worker
I have been in the field of social work for the past 5 years and within the educational field cumulatively for 12 years working with vulnerable families
struggling with psychosocial and social issues. My active listening skills can be shown through my ability to connect with others on a deeper level and help them through their process to manage stressful situations. My experience ranges from clients as young as 5years old to older adults suffering from severe mental illnesses.
I have provided individual and group therapy to at-risk clients struggling with academic, social, behavioral, and emotional problems. I use various tools to identify symptoms and implement evidence-based interventions that address clinical symptoms of trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, and other clinical issues. I have experience in crisis intervention and after care plans, partnering with both clients and parents alike. My knowledge within the mental health field also includes providing wraparound services, intensive case management, and assisting clients with various life transitions varying from navigating housing support to vocational and educational linkages.
My goal is to help you understand the fundamental issues that are difficult for you to manage. Using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing), along with a Cognitive Behavioral approach (CBT), my hope is to create a therapeutic relationship where you are provided with the ability to bounce back from challenges with a stronger sense of self, confidence, and coping capacity to get through adversity. With empathy and active listening, my hope is to build trust and create a unique approach together that works for you to improve your quality of life.
I believe in meaningful connections. I believe that establishing this connection and providing a safe environment for vulnerability is a vital gateway that will support overall growth. With compassion and from a non-judgmental approach, my goal is to support the healing process by understanding the underlying issues causing suffering.
Diane Orozco
Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
I am deeply committed to disrupting intergenerational cycles and the systems of oppression that leave us feeling stuck, insecure, lonely or simply misaligned.
As the daughter of a poor immigrant father from Jalisco, Mexico and Chicana mother from Northeast Los Ángeles I understand and live the complexities of our identities within the Latinx community.
Navigating life with conflicting values and expectations can be a lot to handle. It’s so important for you to have a safe and affirming space to focus on you. As your therapist, we will work collaboratively to build trust and safety in our relationship. I believe the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for deep healing work. My role is to support your healing process. I do this with curiosity, empathy, some humor and a gentle but firm approach. Together, we will work to develop insight, to build on your power, to find your peace and your joy.
To support you in this process, I will incorporate, with a racial justice framework, elements from various therapeutic modalities including EMDR, family systems, attachment, mindfulness, and CBT. My approach to mental health is holistic and I believe that body movement, good nutrition and sleep provide a solid foundation for a healthy mind.
My experience includes parent training, school based services, and outpatient community mental health. I have experience working with youth, adults and families struggling with trauma, complex trauma, anxiety, depression, grief and life transitions. I received a Master’s of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Trauma Studies from Pacific Oaks College. I am an alumni of the AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Minority Fellowship Program and a member of CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).
Stephanie Sorady
Associate Clinical Social Worker
If you’re reading this, you are likely someone who is ready to take steps towards healing and transformation – congratulations!
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed, burnt out and drained? What if I told you that you already possess the power and wisdom you need to improve your relationships, career, and confidence? Well – you do! When working with clients I enjoy taking a collaborative approach to help them heal and build a healthy foundation for the life they want to live. You are the expert of your experiences and I’m here to support and guide you on your healing journey.
A bit about me: I was born and raised in Los Angeles and grew up in a multicultural family as the daughter of a Mexican immigrant mother and Irish-Hungarian-American father. I’m also a bilingual clinician (Spanish). I’ve been working in the field of social work for four years providing crisis intervention, case management and therapeutic services. Through my work so far I’ve supported a wide variety of folks such as first-gen college students, adult children of alcoholics, people experiencing homelessness and military veterans. These experiences have provided me with diverse perspectives and invaluable lessons I use in my therapeutic practice regularly.
I received my B.A. in Social Sciences from the University of Southern California and my Masters in Social Work from Columbia University. I’m currently registered with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) as an Associate Clinical Social Worker.
My goal is to create a non-judgemental space where you feel seen and heard through a culturally sensitive and trauma-informed lens. I use Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Mindfulness and Solution-Focused techniques to help you heal from anxiety, intergenerational trauma, negative beliefs and mal-adaptive behaviors that no longer serve you. My specialties include: anxiety, perfectionism, parentified children, trauma, self-esteem, issues affecting women, issues affecting veterans and grief/loss.
If you feel we may be a good fit and are interested in working together to help you heal from the past and intentionally create your future, please schedule your consultation.
